Someone asked if I had any plans to finish CENTENARIAN and when it would be published. Yes, I do plan to finish it sometime (that would be one of the projects I'd *like* to do, but have no idea if I *will* do in 2008). I do not have a publisher for it, nor will I search for one until after the book is done*, because I am not going to commit myself to more than 2 contracted novels a year ever again**.

However, when I do write more on it, I'll be posting it. It's my Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Wretch project, and perhaps at some point I'll be crass enough to put up a paypal button with the story, but mostly it's for the fun of writing it and presenting something directly to readers. There's no real pressure aside from that which I apply myself and the occasional note from a reader saying, "More?" (which is lovely), and after the last few years, having a dilettante project is very appealing. (This is why my agent and editor both told me I needed to get a hobby that wasn't writing. They're so very right.)

Someone else expressed dismay over the Negotiator Trilogy, specifically the "trilogy" part of that, and wondered if there was any chance I might expand that into the Negotiator Series.

No and yes: Margrit's story will be finished at the end of the trilogy. But there are a number of other books I could write about the Old Races, none of which I have any intention of writing any time soon. Maybe when the Walker Papers are done, if people are still buying urban fantasy in that far-off day.

This, you may surmise, is not very much like getting work done. I had better get to it.

*Except for once I've got a proposal together for it, which will happen 2 more chapters and a synopsis from now, there is a publisher I very very very much want to work with who would like to see it, and who wants to see the S&3 as soon as it's available so they can have a chance at actually getting the book...

**Unless ANGLES sells as a trilogy, in which case I will make an exception.

There once were some science fiction writers
Whose leader was a bit of a blighter*
He called us all wretches
And such words did fetch-us
To become some pixel-stained fighters!

Today is International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day, as proposed by papersky here. I'm SFWA-qualified but not a member, so evidently in the grand scheme of things I get extra points for doing this. :)

I have a variety of stuff already online, including IMMORTAL BELOVED, a Highlander novel, and a variety of first chapter teasers, but in honor of IPSTD, I'm posting the third and final bit of (eta: the first chapter of) CENTENARIAN, formerly known as 100 Years. :)

Part I
Part II
( Part III )

Or the entirety posted here. :)

*I have no actual personal opinion about Mr. Hendrix, and am aware he's the VP, not the actual President of the SFWA. It just fit the scan and rhymed. It's a limerick, for heaven's sake! :)

'cause you asked so nicely. :)

100 Years, Part I

( 100 Years, Part II )

ytd wordcount: 62,500
miles to Minas Tirith: 15

Today was Fair Trade Day. There were four of us volunteering, and almost no business, so the shop looks *very* tidy and attractive now. :)

On the train on the way in, the first bits of a story-ish thing that I've had vague plans to do something with popped into my head, so when I came home, instead of working on HoCH, I wrote 1500 words of storybits:

( 100 Years )

I'm going to go try to get at least a few pages done on HoCH now, because that's actually the project I'm supposed to be working on. If I can even get just 3 pages, I'll be halfway through my 2 week goal.

ytd wordcount: 57,500
miles to Dunharrow: 181